Bulldogs battle

Lakeview 4x800 relay wins district

May 24, 2013

CORTLAND - Christopher Edie held a cup of water as steady as he could.

He shook off the signs of exhaustion after his two laps of the 4x800-meter relay - signs Edie displayed minutes after his run.

"I just threw up a few times," said the Lakeview High School junior, who ran the team's second leg.

Article Photos

Tribune Chronicle / R. Michael SempleLakeview’s Eric Harris crosses the finish line and the Lakeview boys go on to win the 4x800 meter relay during the Division II district meet at Lakeview High School.

Edie took the handoff from the Bulldogs' first leg, Issac Daffron, and claimed the lead over distance powers Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy and Crestwood.

Lakeview eventually held off a hard-charging CVCA team for the Division II Lakeview District track and field title in that event. It was the Bulldogs' first district relay crown since winning the title in 2011.

Lakeview ran 8 minutes, 15.26 seconds, while CVCA clocked 8:15.87.

The top four in each district final advance to next week's regional at Bedford High School.

Bulldogs' anchor Eric Harris, the team's only senior, took the baton in first and seemingly would lead the junior-laden quartet to the win.

With 200 meters to go, CVCA's Ryan Adams closed in on Harris. The two were tied heading down the final 100. Harris outlasted Adams at the finish. Crestwood and Garfield took the final two spots.

"I knew when I got the baton and had the lead they were close," Harris said. "He's a fantastic 800 runner. I knew I had to go. I hope I could hold him off. I got the job done. It was a good day."

Issac Daffron, who ran a personal best 2:02 in his leg, put Edie close to the lead to start his leg.

"I knew if I ran what I was capable we'd have a chance to win this," Daffron said.

Luke Brantingham, the third leg, said it was a phenomenal start for the Bulldogs.

"Chris had a great leg after Issac's amazing leg," he said. "Issac really came through for us with a 2:02. Then, I kept what we were doing. I built on our relay."

The relay is built around Harris.

"I probably have the easiest leg of anyone in the state because I'm handing off to Eric Harris," Brantingham said. "When I hand off, it's always in good hands.

"It would be great if we could get Eric back to the 4x800 in the state like he did his sophomore year."

Harris went to state in 2010 and '11. The team of Harris, Aaron Jesse, Nick Tripi and Daniel Marhulik took fifth in 2011 and set a school record of 7:53.65.

Thursday, it was all about getting the district win.

"I knew if I ran what I was capable of we'd have a shot to win this," Edie said. "I just stuck with the first two for the first lap and I gave it everything I had for the last 100."

NOTES: Saturday's meet starts at 9 a.m. with the boys pole vault. Because of Thursday's inclement weather, the boys and girls pole vault will be contested Saturday. The rest of the field events start at 10 a.m., followed by the running finals. ... Garfield's Edie Svonavec broke the stadium and meet record in the girls shot put with 42 feet, 6.25 inches. Newton Falls' Tia Harris took third and Lakeview's Brooke Beatty was fourth. ... Cardinal Mooney's Marcus Penza won the boys long jump, followed by Garfield's Alex Radwanski, Liberty's Daquan Carter and Newton Falls' Mike Staton. ... Lakeview's Jordan Lowther was second in the boys discus, Newton Falls' Bucyrus Palo was third and Hubbard's Matt Jones was fourth. Crestwood's Matt Monroe, who won the event, set a meet record with 156-5. ... Girard's Brandi Shonce and Savannah Teter took second and third, respectively, in the girls high jump, while Mooney's Carly Shutrump was fourth. ... Garfield's girls took fourth in the 4x800 relay. ... Girard leads the girls standings over Garfield and Crestwood, 20-16. Lakeview leads the boys slate over Garfield, 21-17. Crestwood is third with 16 points.